New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-22
PRICE THREE CENTS
EXPLOSION IN THE SEWERS
FOUR PER> ONs KILLED IN ROCHESTER,.
NAPHTHA LEAKING FROM UNDERGROUND PIPEs-Q
MILLS BURNED AND STREETS UPHEAvED
EARTUOUA

y
MILLS BURNED AND STREETS UPHEAvED
As BY AN EARTHQUAKE.
hoCHEsTER,N n. Y, Dec. 21.-An explosion ocH
CURED at the mill owned by Joseph H. Poole about
1928 p m. to-day. Not only was the roof of the
mill lifted off, but holes were blown in the street
from brown-st to Mumford-st, a distance Of about
hall Il nlllc The mill was burned. IL was found
on examination that the explosion had occurred in
front of the mill in M-st. at the foot of factory4
ST. The explosion was felt for long dstancet
and Coroner Sharpe, who was at his sisters house
Oh the opposite side of the river says that he felt
it distinctly.
Only few seconds after the first explosion
another followed and another and anothcr
III rapid succession. Instantly flames
burst from the Poole Mill and the rear walls fell
in. The fire burned with great fury.
1t was only a few minutes before the Washing.
ton Mills were also on fire.
One Of the worlmen Jumped from the third story
of the Poole Mill and was badly if not fatally in.
Jured Another escaped by jumping into the milk
race. The cause Of the explosion that the
sewers were filled with narhtha To-day l4OO0
gallons OF naphtha were pumped from the Vacuum
oil Works through the pipe line in the bed of the
old canal 1t was intended for the Municipal Gaa
Company, but one or more breaks in the line al~
lowed the naphtha to escape into the adjoining
sewers When the sewers became overchargcd
with the gas il escaped into the mills and exploding
there or elsewhere made its way through the mains
IN the middle of the Streets throwing out the man
mole covers and tearing up the roadways.
TWO or three Of the finest mills in the city, with
their contents were ruined, and several streets
and sewers were or less damaged In the
ncShborh0od OF the fire and mp Mil and State sts.
as far rs Marllot-st. distance Of about threee
quarters OF mile, people were running in every
di;eci on and frequent explosions terrified them
the more The explosions continued mt short in-
tcrvais for the first half hour that people were
deferred from getting anywhere near the fire.
The walls Of the Jefferson Mill fell in about
o'clock, and it was known that several men were
buried under them. The engineer Of the Clinton
MILL with two companions, standing near the
front OF the mill when the explosion occurred.
They retained sufficient presence of mind to shut
oil the steam and get out of the mill There were
six persons at work in the Clinton MIL four Of
whom escaped through the wator-whccL
At II 80 p. N. the fire was under control, buo
the hrcmcn were kept at work until morning.
The explosion, ceased about 6:30 p. IN. The cX-
ri SION covered a wide territory. Manholcs over
sewers in Mill. Platt. State. west Main. fremont,
Smith jay, Furnace Factory. Brown and many
other street, were blown of hy the force of the
explosion. and a great deal Of the paving around
them was found torn up. Windows were shat<
tered in many buildings.
The tunnel through which the burning nanblhd
flowed for several hours is the largest sewer in the
city and is the outlet for the sewer on the West
Side.
The amount of the naphtha lost is said to have
been $4,000 Gallons.
ilc damage by tine Ere cannot be closely deter.
mined. The Washington Mill was valued at S10-
600. On 10 was about S35. .0pO Insurance. The
:, .icrSon Alill with lis contents valued at
$50. O0O on which there was about $4,000 in-
Surncc. Tie Clinton Mil alone was valued nc
s6j.OOO and was Insured it. is thought. for $780,
600. The Clinton Mill was fairly loaded with
barrels OF flour and grain IN stock The value OF
this Is Stimatcd no from 81 p 00O to $1,000. Tho
Washington Mil contained about 800 barrels OF
lour and 1000 bushels OF wheat. This vail
ucd at - 0.00O and is q total loss.
~ midnight 4 was believed that four persons
were killed in all These Frederick Wilson,
Edward A. Webster Abrm Rogers and John Lee.
The last named was employed in the Clinton Mill
and is missing. 1t is supposed he was burned TO
death Rogers was n millwrglt ard was Injured
by falling walls lie was taken home and died
tonight Young Wilson part owner in the
Shawmut VI and Killed by lying stone
Edward Webster was booking at a manholc from
which the explosions coming. when the eX-
~ sion i'm the Jefferson Mil happened hnryfng
linn under the falling walls II WAS found that
hc WIS injured internally and had leg and an
arm broken lie WAS taken to the City Hospital
where he died to-u0ht
The injured will number AZ least twenty. Most
Of them arr. bruised and cut by stones.